Victorian Government subsidised training scheme - Skills First Program
The Skills First Program, launched in January 2017, is a Victorian Government initiative providing subsidized training for eligible individuals and aims to support those courses which are most likely to lead to employment.
Skills First offers real training for real jobs, through:
- High-quality training that students and industry can trust, aligned to industry and workforce needs.
- A real voice for industry in training.
- Funding for high needs learners who need additional support to engage with and succeed in education and training.
- Access to targeted, relevant training for students in regional areas.
Funding is only provided for training that meets the needs of students, industry and the economy.
Skills First ensures Victoria can provide the skilled workers needed for the six sectors primed for major job growth: medical technology and pharmaceuticals, new energy technology, food and fibre, transport, defence and construction technology, international education and professional services.
It is funded with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding, as is subject to eligibility criteria outlined below.
Skills First Funding Contract Current Year
Saddle On is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 22130) and has a contract with the Department of Education and Training to deliver government subsidised training under the Skills First Program. The Training Services are provided to Eligible Individuals and the training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.
Eligibility Criteria
An eligible individual is an individual who is eligible for training subsidised through the Skills First Program in accordance with the eligibility requirements specified in this VET Funding Contract. The specific criteria is listed below:
a) An individual must be either:
- an Australian citizen;
- a holder of a permanent visa; or
- a New Zealand citizen;
b) Residing in Victoria and enrolling and commencing training in a course or qualification provided by the Training Provider between the Commencement Date and 31 December 2021 inclusive; and
c) Under 20 or upskilling (that is, are you seeking to enrol in a nationally recognised qualification that is at a higher level than the highest qualification you have previously completed)
- under 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training;
- over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training in a Foundation Skills List course;
- over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training as an Apprentice (not Trainee);
- over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in training in the Victorian Certificate of Education or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Intermediate or Senior); or
- over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training in a course that is at a higher qualification level than the highest qualification held at the time of the scheduled commencement of training.
- In addition, an individual is only eligible to:
d) commence a maximum of two courses subsidised through the Skills First Program in a calendar year.Where an individual is enrolled in a course(s) that is scheduled to commence later in that calendar year, this course(s) must be counted for the purpose of this clause when assessing eligibility;
e) undertake a maximum of two courses subsidised through the Skills First Program at any one time;
f) commence a maximum of two government subsidised courses at the same level within the AQF in their lifetime; and
g) commence a maximum of two government subsidised accredited courses with the title ‘Course in…’ in their lifetime.
Please note that if you are eligible and chose to enrol under the Skills First Program this may impact your access to further government subsidised training.
Eligibility Exclusions
An individual is NOT eligible for government subsidised training if the individual is:
a) a student enrolled in a school (excluding a school based Apprentice/Trainee). This includes;
- any government, non-government, independent or Catholic school; or
- a student registered for home schooling in Victoria.
b) within the meaning of the Corrections Act 1986 (Vic), a prisoner held at a prison, including:
- Hopkins Correctional Centre (Ararat);
- Barwon Prison;
- Beechworth Correctional Centre;
- Dame Phyllis Frost Centre;
- Dhurringile Prison;
- Langi KalKal Prison;
- Loddon Prison;
- Marngoneet Correctional Centre;
- Tarrengower Prison;
- Metropolitan Remand Centre;
- Melbourne Assessment Prison;
- Fulham Correctional Centre;
- Port Phillip Prison; or
- Karrenga Annex
c) a person who is detained under the Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic), or the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic) or the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) at the Thomas Embling Hospital; or
d) a person who is detained (other than on weekend detention) under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic) or the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) or who is held on remand in one or more of the following youth justice facilities:
- Malmsbury Juvenile Justice Centre;
- Parkville Youth Residential Centre; or
- Melbourne Youth Justice Centre
The exclusions do not apply to:
- Young people on community based orders made under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic); or
- Individuals held in Judy Lazarus Transition Centre
Who, subject to otherwise complying with the requirements above, may be eligible for training subsidised through the Skills First Program as they are able to physically access training outside of a custodial setting without supervision.
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees for each qualification can be found in the Course Fees. It includes details of any other fees including but not limited to student services, amenities, and goods or materials. The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional Fees may apply on an individual enrolment basis.
Concession Tuition Fees
Concessions on tuition fees for Government-subsidised training places are available for the following eligible students for Certificate I – IV courses:
- Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, and their dependent children and dependant spouses.
- Pensioner Concession Card holders, and their dependent children and dependant spouses.
- Veteran’s Gold Card holders (but not their dependants).
- An alternative card or concession eligibility criterion approved by the Minister for the purposes of these Guidelines
Concessions for applicants that meet the Government-subsidised funding criteria mean course fees payable are equal to 20 per cent of published standard Skills First Tuition fee.
Please note: Enrolment for eligible students is under the Skills First Program and may impact access to further Government-subsidised training. For above Card Holders, concessions do not apply to Diploma and Advanced Diploma level qualifications.
The concession rate of 20 per cent applies to all courses, irrespective of the course level, for individuals who;
- self-identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;or
- are an asylum seeker or trafficked person under the Asylum Seeker VET program
Tuition fee waivers/exemptions
Tuition fee waivers/exemptions are applied to all courses, irrespective of course level, to individuals who are from;
Judy Lazarus Transition Centre – Individuals from the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre (as a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrections Act 1986) with written confirmation from the management of the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre; or
Young People on Community Based Orders – individuals required to undertake the course pursuant to a community based order made under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 with written confirmation from the relevant Youth Justice Unit of the Victorian Department of Justice and Regulation.
